Direction signal



April 14, 1942. a. E. WHITE DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed Nov. 14, 1938 Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRECTION SIGNAL Byron E. White, Brattleboro, Vt. Application November 14, 1938, Serial No. 240,405

1 Claim.

This invention relates to direction signals, and has for one of itsobjects the production of a simple and eificient means for operating the pilot lights of a direction signal system whereby the operator may determine whether or not the signal lights are in proper working order. s

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efiicient multiple switch for controlling the operation of direction signal lights of a direction signal system.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a steering wheel and a portion of the supporting post showing the switch mechanism carried thereby;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the steering wheel showing the switch mounted thereon;

Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevational view at the switch box and pilot light housing;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3; v

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3; I

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1-l of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a plan view of one of the direction signal'light casings;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits employed in operating the signal lights;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the controlling switch and contacts for the electrical circuits showing the switch in one position;

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the switch in another position.

By referring to the drawing it will be seen that P designates the steering post which supports the conventional steering wheel W. A switch mechanism S is secured to the post P by means of a suitable securing band or connection C, but this switch may be mounted upon the dashboard or in any other suitable or convenient location, as desired.

The switch or switch mechanism S preferably comprises a switch box l5 which consists of an insulating block or plate It which is engaged by the suitable connection C previously mentioned. This insulating block i6 carries a pair of side ed pilot light housing I8 in spaced relation above the insulated block I6, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. A switch operating rod H which may be formed of insulated material, is mounted through the plates I! for transverse sliding movement and carries a plurality of stop pins to limitthe movement of the rod l9 transversely through the plates I'T. Suitable knobs or other means 2% maybe carried by the ends of the rod I9. This rod I9 is provided with a depending knob 22 at a point approximately the center thereof with respect to the ends of the rod and this knob 22 is adapted to fit into the recesses 23 formed in the spring detent plate 24. The plate 2k is carried by the upper face of the insulated block i6 directly under the rod IS, a plurality of recesses 23 being provided to hold the rod IS in at least three set or adjusted positions as the knob 22 fits into the recesses 23. This plate 24 is prefplates I1 which side plates I! support an insulato5 erably formed from spring metal and assumes a serpentine contour providing a plurality of alternate humps and valleys over which the knob 22 may easily ride when the rod I9 is being shifted.

The insulated pilot housing l6, as stated above, is supported upon the plates i1, and this housing I8 carries an insulated bottom plate 25 upon which plate are supported the pilot lamps 26 by means of the metallic brackets 21. A central partition 28 is extended between the lights 26 and is supported by the bottom 25, as shown in Figure 8. g

A multiple switch bar as is pivotally secured, as at 36, to the under face of the bottom 25 and is electrically connected to a battery or other source of electrical supply Si by means of a wire 32. A plurality of contact terminals numbered i to 4 inclusive, are carried by the bottom 25 and protrude beyond the lower face of the bottom, as. shown in Figure '7. The multiple switch bar 29 is provided with a central longitudinally extending protruding contact finger 33, a pair of laterally extending spaced contact fingers 34 and 35 upon one side and a pair of laterally extending contact fingers 36 and 31 project from the opposite side of the bar 29 as shown in detail in Figure '7. The bar 29 is provided with a slotted neck 38 which is engaged by a connecting screw 3%, which screw 39 is slidably mounted through the slotted neck 38, and this screw is preferably insulated. The slotted neck 38 preferably extends outwardly from under the pilot light housing l8.

The pilot light housing [8 is provided with a plurality of apertures 40 in the front face thereof in line with the pilot lights 26 for the purpose of throwing light through the apertures 40 at a convenient location where the same may be viewed by an operator. A pivoted shutter 4| is pivoted as at 42 upon the pilot light housing l8 behind the front wall thereof, and is of sufficient length to cut off or partially cut off the rays of light passing through the apertures 46, as this shutter 4| is swung to or from the right or left. After dark the shutter is moved to a position to partially shield the light whereas during the daytime the shutter is preferably in the position shown in full lines in Figure 3. The pilot light housing I8 is preferably secured in position or firmly anchored in engagement with the insulated block l6 by means of a suitable anchoring clamp 43. It should be understood that the apertures 49 may be spaced further apart or arrangein any suitable or desired position or arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention. The illustration shown in Figure 3, as to the location of these apertures, is merely an illustration by way of example.

In carrying out my invention, I preferably employ a lamp housing 45 to be placed on the front of the vehicle, and a lamp housing 46 to be placed at the rear of the vehicle. Each of the housings 45 and 46 are preferably constructed as shown in Figure 9, having a central partition 41 and a display plate 48 which display plate 48 is provided with right and left pointing arrows 49 and 50.

The front lamp housing 45 carries a left bulb 5| and a right bulb 52. The rear light housing 46 carries a left lighting bulb 53 and a right lighting bulb 54. By considering Figure it will be noted that the light bulb 5| is grounded and is also connected to the contact terminal 2 by means of a wire 55. This contact terminal 2 connects to wire 56 which is connected to the left-hand pilot light 26, and this left-hand pilot light 26 is connected to the terminal 3 by means of a wire 57. This terminal 3 is also connected to the bulb 52 by means of entire 58, and this bulb 52 is grounded as shown. The contact terminal I is connected to the right-hand rear bulb 54 by means of a wire 59, which bulb 54 is' grounded. The terminal I is connected to the right-hand pilot light 26 by means of a wire 60. The right-hand pilot light 26 is connected to the terminal 4 by means of a wire 6| and the terminal 4 is connected to the left-hand rear light 53 by means of a wire 62.

The operation of the signal is as follows: As the multiple switch bar 29 is shifted to the left by moving the rod |9 to the left, the inner end of the switch bar 29 will be swung to the position shown in Figure 11 momentarily bringing the contact fingers 36 and 35 in contact with the terminals and 3, thereby passing current through the pilot lights 26 and the current is grounded on the left signal bulbs in the front and rear, and should one of these signal bulbs be burned out or become inoperative, the pilot lights 26 for the left-hand circuit front and rear will not burn, thereby giving the operator advice as to the condition of the signal bulbs. The signal left bulbs do not light when the bar 29 is in this position shown in Figure 11, in view of the fact that the pilot lights are of much lower candle power and a higher resistance, thereby reducing the current passing through the signal lights sufficiently to prevent the signal lights from glowing and causing the current to simply ground through the left signal lights without illuminating the bulbs.

It should be noted that the left pilot light functions for both right and left front signals depending on the direction in which the rod or arm I 9 is moved. The right pilot light functions for the rear signals.

It should be understood that when the multiple switch bar is moved to contact points and 3, both of the pilot bulbs will light, if the left signal bulbs are intact, and the right signal bulbs flash as the bar passes over them when moving to contacts 2 and 4. This flash is so fleeting or quickly made that it simply draws the attention of the operator and as the bar reaches contacts 2 and 4, the left signal bulbs at the front and rear will illuminate and the pilot bulbs 26 are lighted if the right signal bulbs are intact, since they are grounded on them. As the switch 29 is returned to its neutral position, it passes over contacts and 3, thereby testing the left signal bulbs which have just been used. In this way you test the left signals as the arm passes over contacts and 3 to the left and in returning or coming back the right signal bulbs flash so as to attract attention.

There are two pilot or indicating bulbs, the left for the front circuit and the right for the rear circuit, that function whenever the right or left signals are illuminated.

The left pilot light 26 is attached to the contacts 2 and 3, as shown in Figure 10, so that when the finger 35 engages the contact 3, the current passes through the pilot to the contact 2, which contact 2 is attached to the bulb 5|, the bulb 5| being grounded. Also the contact 3 is attached to bulb 52 by wire 58 and this bulb 52 flashes as the finger 35 passes over the contact 3. The bulb 5| serves as a ground for this pilot light unless the bulb 5| is burned out or otherwise disconnected. At the same time the finger 36 engages the contact I, and since the right pilot bulb 26 is attached to the contacts and 4, the current passes through this pilot bulb to the contact 4 and is grounded through the bulb 53 through wire 62. Since the contact 4 is also attached to the bulb 54 through wires 6| and 59, this bulb 54 flashes and the current is grounded on the frame of the car.

In other words, the signal bulbs that are not lighted serve as grounds for the pilot bulbs so if one signal bulb is burned out one pilot light bulb will not flash as the switch arm comes in contact.

The current may go either way through the pilot bulbs depending upon whether signals right or left turn are made, i. e. from 2 to 3 or from 3 to 2 and the current passing through the pilot light grounds on the signal bulb the current reaches, but does not illuminate the bulbs on account of the high resistance of the pilot light which reduces the current. When the bar 29 is moved to the position to contact with contacts 2 and 4 the left signals, both front and rear will light.

Both pilot lights are lighted when the arm is swung to the left and also when swung to the right. If the switch arm is moved to the right the same sequence of pilot lights is obtained only in reverse. The current comes from the battery as the arm is moved to the left through contacts and 3 which are attached through the pilot lights 26 to signals 5| and 53 where it is grounded but 5| and 53 do not light as noted before. Contacts and 3 are attached to signals 52 and 54 so these flash momentarily as the arm passes over, at the same time the pilots flash, so as to attract attention and then as 29 and 33 come into contact with 2 and 4 the left bulbs 5| and 53 are lighted and the pilots are grounded on 52 and 54, if intact.

As the switch bar 29 is swung further to the position shown in Figure 12, the left contacts 2 and 4 will be brought into contact with the bar 29 and the longitudinal finger 33, as shown in Figure 12. This movement will light the lefthand bulbs in both the front and rear housings 44 and 46, causing the left front and rear lights to properly glow to give the proper direction signal. When the bar 29 is swung in the opposite direction, the front and rear right-hand lights will be lighted, first by lighting the pilot lights, and then by causing the direction signal lights to glow. It should be noted that the switch bar 29 is moved in two difierent steps in either direction, the first position being to light the pilot lights the circuit also being through the respective signal lights but the current being insuflicient to cause the signal lights to glow when the bar 29 is in the first position.- The continued movement of the bar 29 will move the bar into proper position for contact to cause the signal lights to properly glow aswill be obvious by considering Figure 10. It should be borne in mind that the pilot lights are of much less candle power and hence of a high resistance.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

In combination with a switch housing of the character described, a plurality of contacts carried by the housing, a switch arm pivotally carried by the housing and having means for selectively engaging the contacts, said switch arm having a projecting slotted end extending beyond the housing, an insulated bottom plate, side plates suspending the bottom plate from the housing, an operating rod slidably mounted through the side plates and having knobbed ends projecting beyond the side plates, a spring detent plate carried by said insulated bottom plate and having a plurality of depressed sockets arranged in spaced relation throughout the length of the spring detent plate, a plurality of upwardly bent portions formed within the length of said spring detent plate and contacting the under face of said operating rod at spaced intervals within the switch housing for bracing the rod and holding the same against vibration, means for pivotally and slidably connecting said operating rod to the slotted end of said switch arm, and a knob carried by said operating rod and frictionally contacting the spring detent plate and also adapted to fit in the sockets formed in the plate for selectively holding the operating rod in a selected position and consequently holding the switch arm in selective contact with the contacts carried by the housing.

BYRON E. WHITE. 

